At its April 3 meeting, the Commission conducted its first formal review of preliminary site and building plans for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. The Commission disapproved these plans, finding that the project as submitted did not meet three of the seven adopted design principles developed during the memorial’s site selection process. The Commission requested bimonthly updates from the applicant to encourage a collaborative resolution. “The Commission continues to support a modern and innovative approach to honoring America’s 34th President,” Chairman Preston Bryant Jr. said. “We encourage the applicant to make changes based upon the feedback provided at today’s meeting, and look forward to seeing a revised preliminary design.”

The proposed memorial would honor the legacy and achievements of Dwight Eisenhower as both the 34th President and as a U.S. Army general. The proposal calls for large stainless steel tapestries supported by limestone-clad columns that are approximately 80 feet tall and 10 feet in diameter. Based on extensive testing, the woven tapestries were determined to be mechanically durable.

Harriet Tregoning served on the National Capital Planning Commission as the Mayor’s ex-officio representative from 2007 through 2014. In February she stepped down from her position as Director of the DC Office of Planning and returned to Federal service as the head of HUD’s Office of Economic Resilience.

How do we build civic infrastructure? What keeps people from contributing their opinions – time, access, interest, information – and how can we overcome those barriers? We heard a lot of voices and opinions on April 9 at our Talk vs. Action Speaker Series. Thank you to our panelists— Dave Alpert, Cheryl Cort, Don Edwards and Tom Sherwood— and everyone who participated. We're interested in your suggestions on how NCPC could strengthen its public engagement process. Start thinking, and stay tuned for further opportunities to tell us your ideas!